John Kuntz, The Plain DealerRookie quarterback Brandon Weeden took the first snaps with the first team in drills today at Browns camp in Berea.

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden took the first snaps in team drills today at OTAs, a departure from last week when Colt McCoy went first.

The Browns have said they fully expect Weeden to be their starting quarterback this season, but that he must earn the job.

McCoy, the starter for most of the last two seasons, has said that all he wants is a fair chance in the competition.

Two other top draft picks who cracked the first-team lineup Wednesday were running back Trent Richardson and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz.

"I don't think you can read into that (Weeden going first),'' coach Pat Shurmur said. "I think last week Colt started all the team drills. At least today, and it will change throughout the week, we let Brandon start the drill, but we all got a similar amount of reps.''

Weeden agreed that it shouldn't be overstated.

"Colt did it for the first week and I think they just wanted to switch things up and see how we respond,'' Weeden said. "It’s new guys and you're trying to gain (a comfort level) with different guys. It doesn’t matter if it’s the ones, twos or threes, it’s just about going out and executing and making plays.''

Weeden was disappointed in his first crack at the two-minute drill, getting picked off by seventh-round pick Trevin Wade.

“The two minute drill was all new,'' Weeden said. "It was not as fast paced as I would have liked because you are still thinking a little bit.

McCoy, who went first in the two-minute, didn't fare much better, getting two passes batted down at the line to stall the drive

Shurmur's also been impressed with second-year receiver Greg Little, who's lost 11 pounds through working out and better nutrition.

"I've seen him look a lot quicker, a lot more sudden, to this point he's caught the ball at a much more consistent rate and he just looks like a different guy to me, a guy that's been through it once,'' said Shurmur. "I think he did reshape his body in some ways and it's a credit to him.''

Little spent two month at a training facility in South Florida, where reduced some of the bulk and muscle he put on from so much weight training during his year off from football at North Carolina.

"I was so jacked coming into the (NFL) Combine,'' he said. "Guys were like, 'you've got to get out of the weight room.' That was one of the things I stepped back this year and did more on the field things.''

Little seems poised for a breakout year, "but as long as we in the division'' the rest will take care of itself, he said.

In other Browns news:

* Defensive lineman Brian Schaefering is recovering from a sports hernia surgery and is sitting out practice.

* Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson returned to practice after sitting out last week with a stiff back.

* Free safety Eric Hagg is still running with the first team ahead of Usama Young. He picked off Weeden on a deep pass to Mohamed Massaquoi in team drills.

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